A 23-year-old Gloucester man caught dealing heroin and crack cocaine twice in a month was jailed for six years at the city crown court today.

James Beaumont, of Park Road, Gloucester, had led a blameless life until about three years ago when he fell out with the loving foster parents who had raised him since the age of three, the court was told.

He found himself living in a 'doss house' where most of the occupants were drug users or small time dealers and he was recruited into the same lifestyle, said his solicitor Jason Coulter.

But now he has seen the error of his ways and has been reunited with his foster family who have visited him regularly in his remand prison since his arrest last September, Mr Coulter added.

Beaumont pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply on August 3 last year and again on September 2.

Read More

"Fostered from age of three"

Prosecutor Greg Gordon said on August 3 police went to Beaumont's bedsit and found him just outside. He was searched and had eight wraps of crack and 14 wraps of heroin on him. The total value of the drugs was £290. He also had £50 in cash on him - and a further wrap of crack was found in the flat.

Texts on his phone showed that literally minutes before his arrest he had been arranging to sell drugs to customers, Mr Gordon added.

He said Beaumont was bailed by the police but on September 2 was raided again and his room was searched. Police found nine wraps of crack valued at £100 and 20 wraps of heroin worth £200. There was £585 cash in the room.

A notebook in the room contained a 'dealer's list' of his customers.

Gloucester Crown Court

Jason Coulter, defending, said: "He was foster care from the age of three and he wishes to make it clear that he had a wonderful childhood with a family he adored. They looked after him in an exemplary way.

"He went to college and it looked as if he was going to lead an industrious life. He was in the throes of a degree course.